Pahalgam terror attack LIVE: India suspends Indus Water Treaty
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says that those responsible for the “cowardly terrorist attack” on innocent citizens will soon get a strong response
India on Wednesday (April 23) suspended the Indus Water Treaty and announced downgrading diplomatic ties with Pakistan, including expulsion of its military attaches in view of cross-border links to the Pahalgam terror attack.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met this evening under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and firmed up the responses to the terror attack.
The CCS decided that the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said at a media briefing.
Orders closure of Attari Border
The Integrated Check Post at Attari will be closed with immediate effect, he said.
Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before May 1, he said.
Misri said, "The defence, military, naval and air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared Persona Non Grata." They have a week to leave India, he said.
India will be withdrawing its own defence, navy and air advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
"These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled. Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions," he said.
"The overall strength of the High Commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions, to be effected by May 1," he said.
Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that those responsible for the “cowardly terrorist attack” on innocent citizens will soon get a “strong response” to their nefarious acts on Indian soil.
Singh, while vowing a befitting reply, also said India will not only hunt down the people who perpetrated the attack but will also trace those “sitting behind the scenes” who had conspired to carry out the deadly act on Indian soil.
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Live Updates
- 23 April 2025 4:00 PM GMT
Govt calls all-party meeting
The government will call an all-party meeting on Thursday in the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to chair it, they said.
Home Minister Amit Shah and Singh are speaking to leaders of various parties on the issue, the sources said.
Several Opposition parties, including the Congress, had demanded that the government should convene a meeting of all parties over the issue.
Singh is expected to brief leaders of different parties on the brutal terror attack targeting tourists that left at least 26 persons dead.
- 23 April 2025 3:49 PM GMT
Another update from CCS meet.
All defence, naval, military officials in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been asked to leave.
- 23 April 2025 3:43 PM GMT
Key points from MEA's media briefing after CCS
1. India to suspend the Indus Water Treaty.
2. All Pak nationals should leave India in 48 hours
3. Orders immediate closure of Attari-Wagah Border
4. India stops issuing visas to Pak nationals
- 23 April 2025 3:26 PM GMT
Reciting Kalma saves life of Assam University professor
Reciting the ‘Kalma’ (Islamic verse) saved the life of Assam University Professor Debasish Bhattacharya by a whisker in Pahalgam, where he was holidaying with his family when the terrorists struck on Tuesday.
Bhattacharya, who teaches Bengali at Silchar’s Assam University, was at Baisaran meadows when the gun-toting terrorists started targeting tourists visiting the picturesque spot.
He said the people around him crouched on the ground and started reciting the ‘Kalma’, a declaration of faith that forms the core beliefs of Muslims.
“So, I also followed them. A terrorist walked up to us and shot the man next to me. Then he looked at me and asked what I was doing. I just recited the Kalma louder and did not reply to his question. I don’t know what happened; he just turned around and left,” Bhattacharya told PTI over phone.
The professor said after the terrorists left, he along with his wife and son immediately abandoned the place and walked back.
“I somehow managed to escape by crossing the fence,” he said.
After walking for about two hours, he met a local man who guided him back to Pahalgam town.
Some of the eyewitnesses have claimed that the victims were asked about their religion before they were shot. The terrorists only targeted men.
Still badly shaken from the ordeal, Bhattacharya said he will not be able to answer any more queries.
Meanwhile, the Assam government is making arrangements to bring Bhattacharya’s family to his hometown.
“The@CMOfficeAssam has spoken to a survivor from Assam of the dastardly #PahalgamTerrorAttack and has taken a full brief of the incident which they have faced yesterday,” the CMO said in a post on X.
“The entire family’s return to the state is being arranged on priority and the government of Assam is in touch with the govt of India to bring the family back to Assam at the earliest,” it added.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also said that his office is in touch with Bhattacharya. “We will ensure his safe return to Assam soon,” he said.
- 23 April 2025 2:48 PM GMT
Karnataka govt announces compensation
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the victims of the terror attack in Pahalgam. Three tourists from Karnataka died in this attack: CMO - 23 April 2025 2:43 PM GMT
Bengal Cabinet adopts condolence resolution
The West Bengal Cabinet has adopted a condolence resolution to mourn the deaths of 26 people in the Pahalgam terror attack, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday.
She strongly condemned the attack and demanded the harshest possible punishment for those responsible. “Terrorism has no religion, no caste — you cannot forgive them,” she said.
“I cannot believe that such a prolonged terror strike took place. From what we’re hearing, the assailants selected their victims before killing them. There were so many Army personnel present. It’s a border area. I will not speak much on this now. What we want is strong action against those behind this… We have condemned the incident, and today in the Cabinet, we adopted a Condolence Resolution to express our grief,” she said.
The Chief Minister assured that the families of the three victims from West Bengal would receive full assistance from the state government.
She noted that the bodies of Bitan Adhikari and Samir Guha would arrive in Kolkata later in the evening. She also confirmed that the body of IB officer Manish Ranjan, a resident of Purulia district, would be flown to Ranchi and then transported by road to his current residence in Jhalda.
Mamata said she has spoken to Bitan’s wife and brother and also to the elder brother of Samir.
She added that 26 tourists from Bengal were stuck in the Valley due to a landslide and all sorts of arrangements were being made to quickly bring them back to the state.
